I am considering riding through Sydney as I head north. Lonely Planet's Cycling Australia, first edition (published 2001) shows a route using a mix of paths and roads from Cronulla into the CBD. The one place I'm intrigued about is where it goes via General Holmes Drive for a short section of about 3kms. Google maps shows this as multi lane each way and looks to be not very bike friendly particularly in the tunnel section. Mind you the book is from 13 years ago so routes change. Any thoughts about an alternative way into the CBD avoiding this section?

ah yes, you are right it isnt at all bike friendly. i havent cycled that way in a long, long time but it is a pretty awful multilane road. i dont recall if there is a shoulder you could cycle in, but if you are solo i would avoid this route. even in a decent sized group i didnt feel safe on that stretch.

someone who knows the area better should be able to help with this, i am fairly certain there is a cycleway that runs around the perimeter of the airport, you could follow that to avoid this section i believe.

You don't have to touch General Holmes drive at all. I ride often to work from Kirrawee to the CBD and it's a mixtures of back streets and bike paths. Even getting from Cronula who can get on the bike path near Solander fields (near Toyota, Ronson, Endeavour Park...whatever it's called these days) which takes you into Taren Pt and eventually onto the bike path over Capt Cook bridge.

It's too hard for me to explain the full route via text and I'm useless with Google maps and mapmyride etc but I'd be happy to show you one day if you like.

Uncle Just wrote:I am considering riding through Sydney as I head north. Lonely Planet's Cycling Australia, first edition (published 2001) shows a route using a mix of paths and roads from Cronulla into the CBD. The one place I'm intrigued about is where it goes via General Holmes Drive for a short section of about 3kms. Google maps shows this as multi lane each way and looks to be not very bike friendly particularly in the tunnel section. Mind you the book is from 13 years ago so routes change. Any thoughts about an alternative way into the CBD avoiding this section?

And from Captain Cooks Bridge the cycleway heads to the shore along Botany Bay past Brighton Le Sands and proceeds to Tempe where you can take a right and folllow dedicated cycleway around the western side of the airport and hook up with the Bourke St cycleway in to the city. No need to go near General Holmes Dr.Have a great ride,Peter

You could take a short-cut inland on Bestic St at Kyeemagh if you didn't need the extra km or so of riding.

Depending on where in Cronulla you start, it's worth also thinking about riding north on Elouera Rd toCaptain Cook Drive - the latter has a decent cycle track that connects up with the cyclewayjust west of Shark Park.

You can also avoid riding on the Grand Parade or Bay cycleway by taking a route from Sandringham Pde through Chutter Ave to Crawford Rd and shorten the trip a little by doing so.

Cheers

WombatK

Somebody has to do something, and it's just incredibly pathetic that it has to be us -Jerry Garcia